The Legends that Surround Charles Island

Charles Island

Charles Island is located just off the coast of Milford, Connecticut. This small 14-acre island has a large array of myths and legends surrounding it.

It is said nothing ever lasts very long on this island because of a curse placed on it by its original inhabitants the Wepoawag Native Americans who were driven off the island in 1639 by Europeans.

Some point to the island’s history as proof this curse actually exists.

Other legends that are told about Charles Island include buried treasure and some scary ghosts.

Charles Deal was the first European to try and inhabit the island. He established a small tobacco plantation but it quickly failed and he left the island.

The island was at one point used briefly as a small pox colony.

In 1699, it is said the infamous pirate Captain William Kidd sailed through Long Island Sound on his way to Boston. Rumors spread that he buried some of his treasure on Charles Island under a rock named Hog Rock.

Some believe he choose the small island because he knew about the curse and hoped this would keep people away. When he reached Boston he was arrested so he never returned to Charles Island.

Yet another treasure is supposedly buried on the island. A band of sailors in 1721 found Guatmozin’s hidden treasure and hid it on Charles Island. These sailors also never returned to claim this treasure.

Quite a few fortune hunters have searched the island for these treasures with no success. However, one legend states a group of hunters actually found something only to lose it as they were chased off the island by a “burning skeleton specter.”

Ruins

In 1935 yet another anglo, John Harris tried to establish a seasonal residence on the island--he abandoned his house within a short time. Others who came after and tried to stay in the Harris home also left quickly.

In 1852, Elizur Pritchard turned the old Harris home into a summer resort called Ansantawae House. This resort lasted the longest of the attempts to inhabit the island--around 15 years.

High tide moving in and two of the
few rock structures that remain on island.
Click to enlarge

After this, a company that made fertilizer from fish used the island briefly. Then a group of monks established the Aquinas Retreat in the 1930s on Charles Island. They built several buildings and paths but stayed for less than 10 years.

Rumors began to spread that the island must be cursed for why did everyone abandon it so quickly.

Then there are the ghosts. Visitors to Charles Island often report strange sights and sounds. Unexplained moans are heard and many have seen odd lights that flash about the island even during the day.

Several witnesses have reported seeing a human apparition. This figure is said to wear outdated clothing.

Sandbar bridge at low tide.

A rocky sandbar bridge that appears during low tides allows visitors to walk across to Charles Island. During high tides this sandbar becomes dangerous. Even though the water is only ankle deep in some places Long Island Sound has vicious currents, riptides and undertows.

Visitors are warned to cross before the tides change. Unfortunately, several people have been lost to these currents. Yet another myth is their bodies have never been found.

One final legend about the island is that it has a herd of “inbred” deer. This is not true. These deer actually swim across from Silver Sands Park. Today the island is used as a wildlife and bird sanctuary.

Connecticut: Easton’s Union Cemetery

This old cemetery established in the 1700s is considered one of America’s most haunted. This probably is due to the fact that Ed and Lorraine Warren--well-kmown demonologists and ghost hunters-- investigated Union several times. Ed was able to capture some compelling evidence on video of a wispy ghost that has been seen by various witnesses in this cemetery as well as nearby. The Warren’s also wrote a book entitled Graveyard that is about Union Cemetery. *

Over the years a substantial amount of photographic and video evidence has been collected at Union by ghost investigators. The ghost that is encountered in this cemetery is known as the “White Lady”. She is described as having long black hair and she is seen wearing a white gown and a white bonnet. Witnesses often describe her as being luminous or “glowing” brightly.

She is seen in various forms. These range from people hearing a woman sobbing or just feeling her presence to witnesses who have seen her apparition. Among these witnesses are several police officers. People have stated they have seen her floating among Union’s tombstones. Many EVP’s have been captured at this spot. This ghost is also seen at the other end of Route 59--that runs by Union-- at Stepney Cemetery. This is where Ed Warren is buried.

This White Lady is seen often on Route 59. Several people while driving along this route state that she appeared suddenly, glowing brightly in the middle of the road, right in front of their cars. All--with one exception--reported that they felt they would run her over but instead she passed through their cars harmlessly and then just vanished.

The one exception to this happened to an off-duty fireman in 1993. Late one night as he passed Union, he saw the apparition of a farmer materialize in the passenger seat of his truck. Then the glowing White Lady appeared in front of his vehicle. He slammed on his brakes but this ghost instead of passing harmlessly through his truck seemed to collide with it, for the fireman heard a loud thud. As he came to a stop the farmer and the White Lady both disappeared without a trace. At least this is what he initially thought--when he got out of his truck he discovered his front bumper was dented.

As to who this ghost was while alive depends upon the theory or legend told. One states that she was a lady who was murdered by an adulterous lover or a love-struck stalker in the 1940s. Another states that she was most likely a woman found at the turn of the 20^th century behind the Easton Baptist Church that sits next to Union Cemetery. This woman’s body was found dumped in a sinkhole behind this church. A third story states she was a woman who died in childbirth. It seems she still is looking for her lost child.

Union Cemetery is still in use. It is open to the public until sundown. This cemetery is a popular destination for ghost hunters. Be forewarned--it is strictly forbidden to be in this cemetery after dusk. This rule is enforced. Some people who have ignored this rule, have been fined, others have been arrested.

* In future I will write a post about the Warrens. Their contributions to demonology and ghost hunting are invaluable.